Should I Start or Wait?

Juan Manuel Benítez, in one of his controversial programs of “Pure Politics of New York 1 News, questioned the possibility for an undocumented immigrant to begin a residency application under current laws. Juan is not the only one who thinks this way, many other lawyers agree, such as Alma Rosa Nieto of Telemundo who says “Do not submit your residency application without 245i.
In the name of the legal division of the International Immigrants Foundation, legalizing people for more than 35 years, I recommend that you begin your application now. So, who should you believe? I will explain and you will see the issue clearly.
The conflict exists between, starting an application now, or, if one can obtain residency without the protection of section 245i. While 245i remains closed, and no one knows with certainty when it will reopen, we know that it was extended from 1998 to April 30th, 2001, and that, those who began their applications during this period could become legal and that can happen again. The United States congress will establish a new immigration law in the next few years. Moreover, the government supports millions of immigrants who find themselves in limbo waiting for their residency so that they can obtain it first. We all know that all of the applications are processed on the day that they were submitted and that they take years. For this reason, why wait until they reopen 245i to submit an application that depends on the day you started it?
So, it’s clear that all of the undocumented immigrants should begin their applications today without worrying about section 245i, even if they entered illegally! The only exception is if they reentered after an illegal deportation, or if they have a criminal record. In those cases, there is also a possibility, but it depends on each situation. Don’t wait any longer!

 

INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANTS FOUNDATION
33 years, Guiding, Legalizing, and Educating Immigrants since 1973
O.N.G. UNITED NATIONS E.C.O.S.O.C.
IMMIGRANTS BUILDING: 7 W. 44th St., New York, N.Y. 10036
(212) 302-2222 – email: www.InmigrantsFoundacion.com

 

*Edward Juarez Studied sociology, International laws, and specialized in immigration.  In 1973, established the International Immigrants Foundation, a non-profit institution created to educate, help, and defend immigrants. In 1984, he established the American Multicultural Coalition and the International Cultures Celebration, conferences in the United Nations, and the Parade and Festival to promote intercultural relations.  With the goal of emphasizing the contributions of immigrants, Juarez established the “Immigrants Building” in 2003, located at 7 West 44^th Street in Manhattan, NYC, where the Foundation continues developing programs that improve the quality of life for immigrants. Currently, he is am active writer, speaker, immigration columnist in El Diario la Prensa, and host of The Immigrants Voice radio and television programs.